Filling device



May 13, 1954 N. ZEPELOVITCH FILLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April28. 1950 W 6 JJ 5 m a V m 0 I y 5 Z .n M W NM W w. M H /fi w Z HIII I Hlull 0 7 y 1954 r N. ZEPELOVITCH 2,678,762

FILLING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as 'x 170 Z 1.50

"zit/44?: 1 3 11111.

" f1 Hi Euro R.

/man mam/w FM 5 MM HTZORNE) Patented May 18, 1954 FILLING DEVICE NathanZepelovitch, New York, N. Y., assignor to Nahum A. Bernstein, New York,N. Y.

Application April 28, 1950, Serial No. 158,643

8 Claims.

This invention relates to filling devices and particularly to anautomatic externally disposed filling device for fluid type writinginstruments.

Conventional fountain pens of the split nib or stylographic types arenormally filled through the action of an internally disposed fillingmechanism, creating successive pressure variations within the inkreservoir through the manual actuation of a plunger or lever. Theconventional filling mechanisms utilizing either a plunger or lever, inaddition to limiting the space available for an ink reservoir within thebarrel of the pen, are, due to lack of space, normally relativelydelicately constructed. The delicate construction usually results in anincrease in production costs and ultimate cost of the pen and alsooftentimes results in a shortened life .of the Writing instrument due tobreakage or other defection of the relatively delicate fillingmechanism.

The conventional filling mechanisms, utilizing pressure variationswithin the ink reservoir, normally do not assure an eiiective flushingof both the ink and air channels of the pen during filling operations.If the air channel is clogged or plugged, the pen may be filled withouta cleansing or flushing of this channel, and the pen, although havingits ink reservoir relatively full of ink, will write por1y due to anuneven fiow of ink from the reservoir to the writing nib or tip.

In addition, filling the conventional type pens is normally aninconvenient and relatively sloppy procedure requiring a carefulinsertion, depthwise, of the pen into the container and a maintenance ofposition during filling operations. Certain common expedients, such astiltable bottles and bottles having internally disposed wells areconventionally utilized to overcome this defect and to maintain arequired predetermined ink level for filling purposes. In any event, afilling of the conventional type pen must usually be accompanied by asubsequent cleansing of the portion of the pen barrel adjacent thewriting tip.

This invention may be briefly described as a fluid writing instrumentfilling device disposed externally of and separate from the writinginstrument and adapted to be removably mounted on a writing fiuiclcontainer or bottle for providing a simple, rapid, clean and efiicientfilling and cleansing of fountain pens. The device includes a pluralityof interconnected complementary chambers which are deformable inresponse to manual depression of a writing instrument placed inoperative relationship therewith for removing any residue of inkcontained within the ink reservoir and for flushing and cleansing boththe air and ink channels of the writing instrument, and are furtherdeformable in response to a release of the manual depression of thewriting instrument for automatically filling the previously emptied inkreservoir independent of the level of ink in the supply container andfor further flushing the air and ink passages of the writing instrumentas the ink reservoir is being refilled with fluid ink.

An object of this invention is to provide an automatic filling devicefor fluid type Writing instruments.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid Writinginstrument filling device disposed externally of and separate from thewriting instrument.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic fillingdevice for writing instruments that is simple in construction andfurther provides a rapid filling of fiuid type writing instruments.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic fillingdevice for writing instruments which cleanses and flushes the ink andair channels of a writing instrument during filling operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automtaic fillingdevice for fluid type writing instruments which permits the use of afountain pen having a greatly enlarged capacity for ink storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic fillingdevice for writing instruments which permits a writing instrument to befilled in a rapid, clean and simple manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic fillingdevice for writing instruments that is simple and inexpensive inconstruction.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic fillingdevice for writing instruments that is massive, strong and of enduringcharacteristics.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in thefollowing disclosure and claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings which describe, by way of example, the principle of theinvention and the presently preferred embodiment of the fillingmechanism applying this principle.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of the filling mechanism positioned inoperative relationship with an ink bottle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the positioning of afountain pen in operative relationship with the filling device;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the relationship between thevarious elements of the filling mechanism during the first stage of thefilling operation; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the relationship between thevarious elements of the filling mechanism during the second stage of thefilling operation, and illustrating a modified embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the filling device is there illustratedpositioned in static operative relationship with an ink container.

There is provided an outer cover member it] having a centrally disposedbore l2. The cover member ID is adapted to be threadedly engaged withthe mouth of an ink supply container M, as at it. A resilient deformablewasher i8, positioned between the lip of the ink supply container i iand the abutting surface of the cover member it, rovides a hermeticclosure for the ink supply container [4.

The cover member is may be shaped and colored to provide a pleasing,decorative efiect and is easily molded from suitable plastic materials.The underside of the cover member 50 is provided with a cylindricallyshaped recess 29. Threadedly engaged with the underside of the covermember in on the bounds of the recess 29 is an annular bowl 22 having acentrally disposed aperture 24 sized equivalently with and positionedbeneath the bore !2 of the cover member i 0. The bowl 22 cooperates withthe recess 28 to provide a cylindrically shaped compartment generallydesignated as 26.

Positioned within the bore I 2 in the cover member 56 and the aperture24 in the bowl 22 is a vertically displaceable cylindrical sleeve 28.

The compartment 25 formed by the recess in the cover it and the bowl 22is divided into complementary upper and lower chambers 3 and 36,respectively, by a horizontally disposed annular deformable membrane 33hermetically secured at its periphery in the joint between the bowl 22and the cover member id. The membrane 38 is hermetically'secured to thevertically displaceable sleeve 23 positioned within the bore l2 and theaperture 24 and is encompassed over a major portion of its radius by thesubstantially horizontally disposed rigid undeiormable discs 39 and 42mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 28 and extendingradially outward therefrom. The discs Q0 and 42 do not extend to thebounds of the compartment and serve to provide a rigid mounting for theportions of. the deformable membrane 38 positioned therebetween.

The vertically displaceable sleeve 28 is closed at its lower end by anannular closure plate 46 which may, if desired, be integral with thesleeve 28. Permanently mounted in the annular opening of the closureplate 46 and extending inwardly into the interior of the verticallydisposed sleeve 28 is a substantially vertically disposed rigid tube 48.The tube 48, being permanently secured to the vertically displaceablesleeve 28 moves vertically in conjunction therewith when said sleeve 28is vertically displaced.

Mounted on the upper end of the vertically displaceable sleeve 28 andpositioned substantially flush with the upper surface of the covermember ID is a horizontally disposed elastic seating washer 50. Thewasher 50a is annular in.

shape and provided with a conically shaped centrally disposed opening52, said opening being wider at its upper extremity in the line of theupper surface of the cover member ID and narrower at its lowerextremity. The washer 50 is adapted to hermetically seat the lowerportion of the barrel of a writing instrument in a manner which will bedescribed in detail at a later point in this specification.

The portion of the substantially vertically disposed rigid tube 48positioned within the vertical sleeve 28 is externally encompassed by avertically disposed elastic tube '58. The elastic tube 58 rests upon theannular closure plate 46, closing the bottom of the sleeve 28, andextends upwardly and-abuts, in static relationship, the underside of theseating washer 50. The elastic tube 58 is closed adjacent its upperextremity by a conicallyshaped elastic deformable ring 66 having a smallcentral opening 62 coaxially disposed withrespect to the axes of therigid tube 48 and the vertically displaceable sleeve 28.

The vertically displaceable sleeve 28 is thus movable within the bore [2of the cover member H3 and aperture 24 of the annular bowl 22. Toprovide a secure hermetic joint between the vertically displaceablesleeve 28 and the annular bowl 22, an elastic deformable washer 70 issecured to the surface of the bowl 22 and encompasses the sleeve 28. Theelastic washer l0 functions as a pressure-tight gasket when thevertically displaceable sleeve 28 is moved with respect to the bowl 22.A similar elastic washer 12 is secured to the underside of the recess 20in the outer cover It and encompasses the vertically displaceable sleeve28. The washer 12 also func tions as a pressure-tight gasket when thevertically displaceable sleeve 28 is moved with respect to the covermember ID. The washers l0 and '12 may be hermetically secured to thesleeve 28 to assure the maintenance of the pressure-tight relationship.

The lower extremity of the. vertically disposed rigid tube #8permanently mounted in the closure plate 36 extends downwardly into theink supply container M. The lower extremity of the tube 48:

is slidably positioned concentrically within the auxiliary tube '56, asuitable elastic washer 18 being positioned intermediate said tubes 48and ltto providc'a secure hermetic seal therebetween. The tube 76 isadapted to rest on the bottom of the'ink supply container M and isprovided with a plurality of internally disposed shoulders forinternally supporting a biasing spring 80 to bias the rigid tube 48 andthe vertically displaceable sleeve 28 permanently secured thereto in anupwardly disposed position. The lower extremity of the auxiliary tube 16is adapted to rest on the.

bottom ofthe ink supply container It and is provided with a plurality ofsmallapertures 84, to.

permit a flow of ink from the main supply within the container I 4 intothe tubes 76 and 48.

The deformable membrane 38 positioned between the discs 40 and42'mounted on and extending radially outwardly from the verticallydisplaceable sleeve 25 divides the compartment 25 into the complementaryupper and lower annular shaped chambers 34 and 36, respectively. Theupper chamber 34 is connected to the interior of the hermetically sealedink supply container [4 by a suitablesmall channel 96positionedwithinthe vertically displaceable sleeve 28. The'lower chamber35'is connected to the annular space. positioned; intermediate thevertically dis-- placeable sleeve 28 and the elastic tube 58 con-'tained therein by a suitable small channel 92 in the side of thevertically displaceable sleeve member 28.

In the above portions of this specification the structure of the fillingdevice in a static state hermetically positioned in the mouth or" theink supply container It has been described. In this condition, leakageof ink from the ink supply container It through the filling device isprevented irrespective of whether the container is tilted or turnedcompletely over, as the only possible leakage opening, 1. e. thecentrally disposed opening 52 in the elastic ring til, is maintainedclosed due to the elastic properties of the ring 68.

Fig. 2 illustrates the positioning of a writing instrument in operativerelationship with the filling device described above. As the writingpoint 569 of the writing instrument it; is inserted into the opening 52in the elastic seating washer 50, the action of opening the fillingdevice begins. A further insertion of the writing tip I into the openinglit results in an engagement of the elastic ring 6% by the tip iiid. Theressure of the writing tip IE8 entering the elastic ring 60 depressesthe elastic tube 53 causing said tube to withdraw downwardly from itsstatic position. abutting the elastic seating washer d. The downwardmovement of the elastic tube 58 continues in response to continueddepression of the writing instrument H12 until the underside of theelastic ring 60 engages the upper portion of the rigid tube 48. Thisarrests the deformation of the elastic tube 58 and a further downwardpressure of the writing tip Hid forces said writing tip into the opening62. The ring til due to its elastic characteristics firmly encompassesthe writing tip I09 and hermetically seals said tip within the inksupply tube i3 which extends into the container It. At the same time,the elastic seating washer 56, due to its elastic characteristics,closes hermetically about the bore tilt of the writing instrument m2.The writing instrument is now positioned for the filling and cleansingoperations.

It will be noted that when the writing instrument is placed in operativerelationship with the filling device as illustrated in Fig. 2, thewriting tip I00, which is in fluid connection with the ink reservor Illawithin the body of the writing instrument through the channel H9, isdirectly connected to the ink supply within the ink supply container itthrough the ink supply tubes 38 and I6. In addition, the lower chamber35 is connected via the channel 92 to the space disposed between theelastic tube 58 and the sleeve 28 which in turn is connected to an airchannel Hit venting the ink reservoir of the fountain pen. Thus, boththe ink supply channel Ho and the air vent channel E65 of the writinginstrument I62 are both individually and directly connected to thevarious chambers especially provided in the filling device which arehermetically sealed from one another and from the external atmosphere.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.There is provided an outer cover IE8 enclosing an annular compartmentI2il and having a centrally disposed bore 22. The cover member H8 isadapted to be threadedly engaged with the conventional raised glassthreads 24 on the exterior surface on the mouth of an ink supplycontainer I2t. A resilient deformable washer lit positioned between thelip of the mouth of theink supply container I25 and the abutting surfaceof the:

cover member lie provides a hermetic closure for said container.

Positioned within the bore i222 of the cover member its is a verticallydisplaceable sleeve I3il. The compartment I20 is divided intocomplementary upper and lower chambers I32 and ml, respectively, by ahorizontally disposed annular deformable membrane 535 hermeticallysecured at its periphery to the side walls of the cover member i ii) andprovided with an annular centrally disposed opening hermetically securedto the vertically displaceable sleeve I30. The membrane 538 isencompassed over a major portion of its radius by substantiallyhorizontally disposed rigid discs wt and Mil mounted on the outerperipheral surface of the sleeve I Stand extending radialiy outwardtherefrom. The discs are and iii? do not extend to the bounds ofthecompartment i253 and serve to provide a rigid mounting for theportions of the deformable membrane I36 positioned therebetween.

Centrally disposed within the vertically displaccable sleeve i andextending downwardly therefrom is a tube I42. The lower portions of thetube Hi2 are concentrically and slidably contained within an auxiliarytube of resting on the base of the ink supply container E25. A suitablegasket or washer I48 is positioned between the tubes Hi2 and IM- tomaintain said tubes in hermetic relationship during movement of saidtube N32 with respect to said tube are. A spring lee encompassing thetube iii-2i rests upon the upper extremity of the tube t lt and biasesthe sleeve I38 in an upwardly disposed position.

The upper portion of the sleeve I30 is provided with an annular closureplate I52 which supports an elastic washer I54 encircling the annularopening therein. The tube I52 at its upper extremity is encompassed byan annular deformable washer I55 having an opening axially disposed withrespect to the bore of the tube I42. The washer I56 is adapted tohermetically position the writing tip of a writing instrument placed inoperative relationship with the filling device. In a similar manner theelastic washer I54 positioned encircling the opening in the closureplate I52 is adapted to hermetically position the bore of a writinginstrument Hi2 placed in operative relationship therewith.

The vertically displaceable sleeve I30 is thus movable with thecentrally disposed bore I22 of the cover member H8. To provide a securehermetic joint between the vertically displace--v able sleeve I39 andthe portions of the centrally disposed bore I22 adjacent thereto, anelastic deformable Washer I58 is secured to the underside of the uppersurface of the cover member IIB and hermetically encompasses the sleeveI38. A

similar elastic washer I?!) is secured to the bottom The membrane I35positioned between the discs I38 and I4!) divides the compartment I20into the upper and lower chambers I32 and I34,

respectively. The upper chamber I32 is connected to the interior of thehermetically sealed ink supply container I26 by a suitable small channelI12 disposed within the sides of the sleeve I30. The lower chamber I34is connected with the interior portions of the sleeve I30 interhisprovided with. suitable apertures it at the portion there-.

ae'rsyrea 7. mediate the washers I54 and I56 by'a suitable channel I14piercing the side of the sleeve I39.

The embodiment set forth in Fig. 4 illustrates a constructionpositioning the upper and lower chambers I32 and I34 externally of theink supply. container I26 and is of slightly different shape than theembodiment of the invention illustrated inFigs. 1 through 3 anddescribed above in the earlier portions of this specification. However,this embodiment functions in an exactly similar manner. to theembodiment set forth in- Figs. 1 through. 3.

Reference will be had toFig. 3 for an explanation of. the mode ofoperation of the filling device. It should be noted at this time thatthe explanation of operation is specific to the embodiment set forth inFig. 3, but it should be clearly understood that the slightly modifiedembodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 functions in a similar manner.

After the writing instrument has been placed in operative relationshipwith the filling device, as illustrated in Fig. 2 and as explained at anearlier portion of this specification, the opening of the ink supplycontainer I4 has been completed. Referring now particularly to Fig. 3,further downward pressure of the writing instrument I62 initiates theaction of emptying any ink contained. within the ink supply reservoir of.the fountain pen and initiates a cleansing and flushing of the inksupply channel H and the air ventchannel I06 extending upwardly to thetop of the ink reservoir IIlfl.

After the pen has been placed in operative relationship with the fillingdevice as illustrated in Fig. 2, the elastic tube 58 can no longer befurther depressed and the elastic ring 62 cannot be further'widened. Afurther manual downward. displacement. of the writing instrument IE2results in a downward. displacement of the displaceable. sleeve 28.The'downward displacement ofthe. sleeve 28 moves the rigid tube 48.connected thereto downwardly within the tube TG resting upon the. bottomof the ink supply container I l; Thedownward movement of the sleeveZILand the tube: 48 is opposed by the biasing spring 80 post-- tionedwithin said tube F6.

The downwardmovement of the. sleeve 23 results in a. downward movementof the membrane 33 positioned between. the discs. 4!] and 42.. The.deformation and downward movement of the membrane. 38: results in thelower chamber- 36 being decreased in size. with an accompanying increasein the air pressure therein- The decrease in' volume of the lowerchamber. is. also accompanied by a. complementary: in.- crease. in. the.volume of, and accompanying" decrease inpressure in the upper chamber34.. As the upper chamber 34 increases in volume and the pressuredecreases therein, there occurs: a.

simultaneous decrease in pressure within the hermetically sealed inksupply container I4, said chamber 34 and container I4 being connected.

by the channel 90.

The decrease in volume of and increase in pressure within the lowerchamber 36' obtained through the downward displacement of'the sleeve 28results in a simultaneous increase-in pressure in the space containedbetween the elastic tube 58 and the s1eeve'28' via the channel 92. Asthisspace is directly connected with the air ventchannel I06 of thewriting instrument I82, the pressure within the inkreservoir W8 isalsoincreased; Ihe overpressure created within the" ink: reservoir'ofthe fountain: pen, together with the complementary decrease in pressurewithin thecontainer I4- causes the remnants of ink con tained therein toflow downwardly via the channel I i throughthe writing tip I00 intothecontainer I 4.

Thus depression of the vertically displaceable. sleeve 28 results inadecrease in pressure within: the ink container I4and a concomitant andcomplementary increase in pressure within the foun-- tain pen I82 whicheffectively empties the ink.

reservoir I98; During this portion of the-filling cycle the channel I 06is cleansed by a flow" of air into the reservoir I8 and the channel H0in the. writing instrument I02 is cleansed by a flow of ink from thereservoir I08.

When the downward movement of the vertically displaceable sleeve 28 ishalted by the' engagement of the washer 10 by the disc 42, the action ofemptying the ink reservoir I08, together with the first cleansing of theair and ink channels of the fountain pen is halted.

If manual downward pressure on the writing instrument IE2 is thenreleased, the spring 80, which has been previously compressed during thedownward movementof the sleeve 28, moves the tube 48 and the sleeve 28connected thereto upwardly. The upward movement of the verticallydisplaceable sleeve 28 in response to the action of the spring 82results in an accompanying up-- ward movement of the membrane 38' andthe discs and 42. The upward movement of the membrane 33 and the discs40 and 42 results in anincrease in volume of and decrease in pressurewithin the lower chamber 36. This decrease in pressure is transmittedthrough the channel 92 to the space positioned between the elastic tube58 and the vertically displaceable sleeve 28 and furing decreased involume with an accompanying.

increase in pressure therein. The pressure increase in the upper chamber34 is transmitted through the channel 90 to the ink supply container I4.

The complementary pressure unbalance created by the upward movement ofthe vertically displaceable sleeve 28, i. e. the pressure decreasewithin the ink reservoir IE8 of the writing in-- strument 32 and thepressure increase within the ink container I4, results in a forcing ofink' through the openings 80 in the tube 16 and upwardly through saidtube I6 and tube 48' into the ink reservoir I08 of the writinginstrument I52 via the ink channel Hi.

It should be noted at this time that the filling action described aboveresults in a second cleansing of the air vent channel I86 and the inkchannel IIfl of the writing instrument I02.

After the vertically displaceable sleeve 28 is limited in its upwardmovement by having the disc 45 abut the washer I2, the cleansing andfilling action is completed. A slight pull on the barrel of the writinginstrument I02 causes the writing tip I to be easily withdrawn from theopening 62 in the elastic ring and the cone I94 to be easily withdrawnfrom the elastic sealing washer 5B.

As the pen M2 is withdrawn from operative relationship with the fillingdevice, the elastic tube 58 moves upwardly, the elastic ring 60contracts and the openi'ng fil isclosed. The upward-moveing member andshaped to hermetically connect the ink within an ink supply containerwith the writing tip of a writing instrument seated in said seatingmember, a chamber formed by and disposed within said cover memberconnected to the ink supply container by passage means in said seatingmember, a second chamber formed by and disposed with said cover memberconnected to the ink reservoir of the writing instrument seated on saidseating member by second passage means in said seating member, adeformable membrane hermetically secured to said displaceable seatingmember and forming a common wall for and between said chambers,displacement of said seating member being effective to flex saiddeformable membrane and vary the volume of said chambers, for creatingpressure unbalances within the writing instrument seated on said seatingmember and within the ink supply container to empty and fill saidwriting instrument.

2. A. device for filling writing instruments adapted for cooperationtherewith and for attachment to an ink supply container, said devicecomprising, a cover member, a displaceable writing instrument seatingmember mounted in said cover member, a tube mounted in said seatingmember and dependent therefrom shaped to hermetically connect the inkwithin an ink supply container with the writing tip of a writinginstrument seated in said seating member, a chamber formed by anddisposed within said cover member, an opening in said seating memberconnecting said chamber with the ink supply container, a second chamberformed by and disposed r with said cover member, an opening in saidseating member connecting said chamber with the ink reservoir of thewriting instrument seated on said seating member, a deformable membranehermetically secured to said displaceable seating member and forming acommon wall for said chambers, the volume of said first and secondchambers being variable in response to fiexure of said deformablemembrane resulting from displacement or said seating member in onedirection for increasing the pressure within the writing instrumentseated in said seating member and decreasing the pressure within the inksupply container to empty said writing instrument, and for decreasingthe pressure within said writing instrument and increasing the pressurewithin said ink supply container to fill said writing instrument inresponse to displacement of said seating member in a second direction.

3. A device for filling writing instruments adapted for cooperationtherewith and for attachment to an ink supply container, said devicecomprising, a cover member for hermetically sealing the ink supplycontainer, a displaceable writing instrument seating member mounted insaid cover member, a tube mounted in said seating member and dependenttherefrom into said ink supply, deformable means mounted on said tubeshaped to hermetically engage the writing tip of a writing instrumentseated in said seating member, a chamber formed by and contained withinsaid cover member, passage means in said seating member connecting saidchamber to the ink supply container, a second chamber formed by andcontained within said cover member, second passage means in said seatingmember connecting said second chamber to the ink reservoir of a writinginstrument seated on said seating member, a deformable membranehermetically secured to said displaceable seating member and to thecover member forming a common intermediate wall for said chambers, thevolume of said first and second chambers being variable in response toflexure of said deformable membrane resulting from displacement of saidseating member for creating complemental pressure unbalances within saidwriting instrument seated on said seating member and within the inksupply container to empty and fill said writing instrument.

4. A. device for filling writing instruments adapted for cooperationtherewith and for attachment to an ink supply container, said devicecomprising, a cover member for hermetically sealing an ink supplycontainer and having a centrally disposed bore, a verticallydisplaceable sleeve mounted within said bore, a writing instrumentseating element mounted on said sleeve, an ink supply tubeconcentrically contained within said sleeve and dependent downwardlytherefrom into the ink supply container, a writing tip seating elementmounted on said ink supply tube for hermetically connecting the writingtip of a writing instrument seated in said writing instrument seatingelement with the ink supply, a spring for upwardly biasing saiddisplaceable sleeve, a chamber formed by and contained withsaid covermember, an opening in said sleeve connecting said chamber with the inksupply container, a second chamber formed by and contained within saidcover member, a second openin said sleeve connecting said second chambertothe ink reservoir of a writing instrument seated on the writinginstrument seating element, a deformable membrane hermetically securedto said displaceable sleeve and to said cover member forming a commondeformable wall intermediate said chambers, the volume of said firstsecond chambers being variable in response to downward displacement ofsaid sleeve for increasing the pressure within the ink reservoir of thewriting instrument and simultaneously decreasing the pressure within theink supply container to empty said writing instrument, and fordecreasing the pressure within said ink reservoir and increasing thepressure within said ink supply container to fill said writinginstrument in response to the upward displacement of said sleeve underthe influence of said spring.

5. A device for filling writing instruments of the type having an inkreservoir, a writing tip in fluid communication therewith and an airpassage venting said ink reservoir, and adapted for cooperationtherewith and for hermetic attachment to an ink supply container, saiddevice comprising a cover member for hermetically sealing the ink supplycontainer, a displaceable writing instrument seating member mounted insaid cover member, a tube mounted in said seating member and dependenttherefrom into said ink supply container, shaped means mounted upon theportion of said tube disposed within said seating member to hermeticallyconnect a writing tip with the fiuid ink in the supply container, saidcover member shaped to provide an internal chamber disposed around saidseating member,

-a deformablemembrane securedto said displace- ;able seating member anddisposed within said chamber, said deformable membrane dividing :saidinternally disposed chamber into a, pair of complementary chambershaving a common wall, .an .opening in-said seating member connectingZone .of said chambers to the air passage in said writing instrument tovary the pressure within said ink reservoir in response to thedisplacement ofrsaid seating member, and a second opening in saidseating member connecting the second of 'said .chambers withsaid inksupply container to .vary=the:pressure therein in response to thedisplacement of said seating member.

-6. A'method of filling writing instruments of thereservoirtypelcomprisingthe steps of placing the writing instrument andthe reservoir thereof in hermetic closed circuit relationship with theink in an ink supply container, creating a pressure increase within saidreservoir simultaneously with .a pressure decrease within said inkcontainer, and [a subsequent pressure increase within said containersimultaneously with a pressure decrease within said reservoir.

1A device for filling writing instruments .adapted for cooperationtherewith and for attachment-to an ink supply container, said devicecomprising .a cover member, adisplaceable writing instrument seatingmember mounted in said cover membena tube dependent from saidseatinglmember for hermetically connecting the ink within-the ink supplycontainer with the writing tip of a writing instrument when saidinstrument is seated in said seating member, said cover member shaped toprovide a pair of internally disposed =chambers having a commondeformable wall passage'means connecting one of saidchamhers withsaidink supply containerand the other of said chambers with said writinginstrument, the volume of said chambers being variable in response toldisplacement of the seating member for creating complemental pressureunbalances within .the writing instrument and ink supply container toempty and fill the writing instrument.

8. A device for filling writing instruments adapted for cooperationtherewith and forattachment to an ink supply container, said devicecomprising a covermember, a displaceable writing instrument seatingmember mounted in said cover member, a writing tip receiving tubemounted within said seating member and dependent therefrom into said inksupply, said .cover member shaped to provide .an internal chamberdisposed around said seating member, a

deformable wall member disposed within said internal.chamberandlsecuredto said displaceable seating member, said wallmember dividing saidinternal chamber into a pair of complementary chambers having said wallmember as a common wall therebetween, and passage means transmittingfluid pressure in response to displacement of said seating member andsaid wall member disposed within said seating member connecting one ofsaid pair of complementary chambers with said writing instrument and theother of saidpair of chambers with said ink supply container forReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 5%,739 Smith 'Dec.'21, 1897 1,854,814 Terry Apr. 19, 19321,916,186 .Neunier June 27, 1933 2,203,475 Terry June-4, 1940

